Patient recalls traumatic moment when quake shook hospital in Kidapawan City

The magnitude 6.3 earthquake that jolted Mindanao on Wednesday night was doubly terrifying for some patients in Kidapawan City who found it challenging to duck, cover, and hold.

"Nagbangon ako sa higaan ko, ang una ko talagang kinuha 'yung dextrose ko. Pagkuha ko ng dextrose ko, bigla namang nagyugyog muntik na akong matumba. Natapon 'yung dextrose ko," Gina, a female patient of Midway Hospital, said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita on Friday.

"Tapos biglang nag-brownout, hinanap ko pa talaga yung dextrose ko kasi parang nakatali doon sa aking higaan. Nagyugyog talaga nang malakas akala ko guguho na 'yung building," she added.

She said that as she reached the hallway, shattered glasses were already scattered on the floor.

The patient remembered praying as she scampered out of the hospital.

"Dahan-dahan lang akong nagbaba. Sabi ko, 'In Jesus' name, tama na po.'"

Patients admitted in the said hospital opted to occupy the lobby and hallways on the ground floor instead of returning to their rooms in the upper floors of the building for fear of aftershocks.

"Takot na talaga kaming bumalik doon sa taas. Masikip dito pero bahala na, pag maglindol ulit, malapit lang kaming makalabas," the patient said.

Kidapawan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Psalmer Bernalde assured the patients that they do not have to panic because the city engineers have already inspected the structural integrity of five hospital buildings affected by the quake.

"Pinayagan nang bumalik 'yung mga pasyente sa kanilang mga hospital rooms," he said. — Dona Magsino/RSJ, GMA News